Hey all! Just wanted to say that broncoisl has posted the proper solution to checking the polarity problem. However, many audio installers use anything from a 1.5V AA battery to a 18V DeWalt drill battery to test what speaker wires go where... just don't leave it hooked up for a long period of time, or it could slowly burn up the voice coil. Audio speakers convert signal waves of AC current, not DC, from the head unit or amp into sound waves. I have ran a subwoofer on 110/VAC for almost 2 minutes before it finally smoked the voice coil...so don't be afraid of using a battery to test "pop" the speakers. Of course, a AA battery is a lot smaller and convenient to use than a car battery! Just a few thoughts from a MECP installer... dL8EsMan119, as far as doing a complete audio install on your car, if you aren't comfortable doing the install, have a pro do it for you...you can short out your wiring and end up frying your battery or electronics...or worse, melt your wiring somewhere and start a fire!
run new wires and cut out the old radio for room for the new one, if i am not mistaken the ring off of the old radio is perfect for a new headunit
A few years ago me and a couple of friends were bored. We hooked an old speaker to a 25 foot extension cord and set it out in the middle of the driveway. Plugged it in and it made a humming sound like you wouldn't believe. Until smoke started rolling out of it. We used to do all kinds of stuff like that. Like the little electric motors out of radio controled cars and stuff. Man them little motors sure would run fast for about 10 seconds when you plugged them in.
I just bought an AM/FM CD player ..off brand ( affiliated with Jensen) This Stereo is bare bones, it doesn't have presets, It has a digital display, but it has manual tuning,It has the wires already there to install an amp. One small knob on the right side to tune the stations, push buttons for volume etc. It cost me only $49.95 I like that it keeps the flavor of the radios of this era ( manual tuning) but doesn't have the knobs sticking out. I had a buddy who works part time at Best buy cut out the pot metal face place for the factory unit, I don't have a dremel (Just inside the chrome line) I bought 2 6x9 Triaxials, that have a cone that can be aimed. I think they are 120 watts also Jensens, at Target for 39.95 I put them in the back, The kick panels have holes behind them for round speakers, (anyone know what size and how deep they go ) I'll add those later. Anyway less than $100 for you ( I work there part time so got 10% off and it sounds nice just with six9'
OOPS not quite done, another thing to add by cutting out just inside the chrome accent line on the factory face plate the new stereo fit like a glove no additional instal stuff needed the result is very clean updated but stills has the some of the uh character of a 1974 system.
